Device for securing ribbons to spools

ABSTRACT

A device for securing a strip of material to a spool having a longitudinal slot with undercut lips on each side of the slot. The device comprises a rod formed with a pair of intermediate sections pivotally engaging a loop at the end of the strip of material. A pair of legs project, one from each extreme end of the intermediate sections. The rod is bent centrally to form a stop tab to coact with a notch in the spool. The device is inserted into the slot and twisted to engage under the lips, and will resist pull-out irrespective of the direction of pull on the strip.

Dragan [451 Apr. 9, 1974 DEVICE FOR SECURING RIBBONS TO SPOOLS [75] Inventor: Thomas C. Dragan, Cleveland, Ohio [73] Assignee: Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio 22 Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 325,486

l,757,24l 5/l930 Forse 242/74 Primary ExaminerJohn W. Huckert Assistant ExaminerEdward J. McCarthy Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ray S. Pyle 5 7 ABSTRACT Adevice for securing a strip of material to a spool having a longitudinal slot with undercut lips on each side of the slot. The device comprises a rod formed with a pair of intermediate sections pivotally engaging a loop at the end of the strip of material. A pair of legs project, one from each extreme end of the intermediate sections. The rod is bent centrally to form a stop tab to coact with a notch in the spool. The device is inserted into the slot and twisted to engage under the lips, and will resist pull-out irrespective of the direction of pull on the strip.

9 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 0F 2 MENTED APR 9 I974 DEVICE FOR SECURING RIBBONS TO SPOOLS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Attachment of ribbons to spools is required in several types of business machines. Generally it is necessary to make possible an attachment in a few moments of time without tools, but the attachment must be secure against self-release. A quick attachment device which will hold the ribbon on take-up, but fails to hold at the end of dispensing feed-out, is not acceptable. Such failure may pull the securing device into the operating mechanism, or at least delay production until an operator can reaffix the ribbon to the spool for use as a takeup spool. One such attachment device in use is shown in US. Pat. No. 2,104,746.

FIGS. 1 through 3 show a spool which is widely used in a conventional Addressograph-Multigraph Corp. repetitive printing machine. This type of spool has been employed for a substantial period of time in plate printing machines for the purpose of winding inked ribbon thereon. This spool, designated generally by the reference character 10, is mounted on a shaft 12 which shaft in turn is mounted for rotative support of the spool in a machine. The spool is provided with an axially extending slot 14 which slot 14 has undercut lips 16 and 18 on either side thereof defining an opening 20 therebetween for access to the slot 14. Centrally (axially) of the slot 14 there is a circumferentially extending notch 22. Opposite the notch 22 a tab 24 projects from the lip 18 and partially covers over opening'20. However, the tab 24 projects only in the area of notch 22, and therefore the final effect is an opening 20.

A conventional prior art ribbon securing device designated generally as 26 is shown in FIGS. 4 through 6. This securing device 26 is formed of a channel shaped member 28 and an insert bar 30. The end portion of a ribbon 32 is placed around the insert bar within the channel shaped member 28 and the member 28 is crimped to secure the end of the ribbon 32 in this position. The channel member 28 is also provided with a projecting, slightly angled tab 34. The securing device 26 is crimped as shown at 36 in the area of the tab 34, to provide a sinus form which will conform to the sinus form of opening 20, to allow for insertion into the slot 14 past the tab 24.

As can be seen in FIG. 6 the ribbon 32 eminates from the securing device 26 approximately centrally between the opposite edges thereof, i.e., centrally of one longer face thereof and from the side opposite the side from which tab 34 extends.

The thickness t of the device is less than the width of the opening 20 but the width w is greater than the widt of the opening 20.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the steps of inserting the device 26 into the slot 14 to secure the ribbon on the spool. As can be seen in FIG. 7 the device is grasped at the tab 34 between the thumb and finger and held in the position shown in FIG. 7. In this configuration the device is aligned with its thickness 1 to go through the opening 20 and allow the device to be inserted fully intothe slot 14. The crimped area 36 is not apparent in FIG. 7, the partial closing of opening 20by tab 24 is best illustrated in FIG. 3. The crimped area permits the device to divert over into notch 22 and pass down into slot 14. Once the device 26 is in the slot 14 the tab 34 is pushed by the thumb as shown in FIG. 8 to twist the device approximately degrees so that the width w is transverse to the opening 20. The tab 34 will bear against the bottom of the notch 22 to limit the amount of rotation and define this position.

If the spool is wound in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 9 to take up the ribbon and wind it thereon, the ribbon 32 will act on the securing device 26 to generate linear and torsional forces generally as shown by arrow A for the linear vector and arrow B for the torsional vector in FIG. 9. As can be seen from these force vectors the resultant force is generally in a direction which will cause the device 26 to rotate counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 9) pushing thetab 34 against the bottom of the notch 22 and the opposite end of the device into engagement with the lip 18. This type of force is one that generally tends to securely maintain the securing device in the slot and prevent its pullout.

However, the spool may be wound in the opposite direction, or if not it will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to unwind the ribbon therefrom, and this direction of motion is shown in FIG. 10. If at the conclusion of the winding the spool goes to an overcenter condition the ribbon 32 will generate a force on the grippingdevice which includes the linear vector C and the torsional vector D shown in FIG. 10. With this type of force vectors generated it can be seen that the tab 34 tends to lift out of the notch 22 and in fact the gripping device tends to be rotated to its position with its t dimension aligned to pass through the opening 20 and the device can be unintentionally disengaged from the slot due to this forceshown in FIG. 10. This is one of the principal drawbacks of this prior art device for securing the ribbon in the slot. Another of the drawbacks is that a crimping operation is required to secure the ribbon to the device and this of necessity is a factory operation. If the ribbon should tear loose from the securing device it cannot be repaired in the field and must be disposed of or returned to the factory for application of another device.

Thus while the prior art device in general has worked very well it'has had these two limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a device is provided for securing a strip of material such as an inked ribbon is a slot having an undercut lip. The device is configured and securedto the ribbon such that in either direction of pull of the ribbon out of the slot it will tend to maintain the device securely in the slot. Also, the device is dimensioned to permit easy attachment of the ribbon thereto in the field.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spool of the type to which the present device is adapted to secure an inked ribbon;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane designated by the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane designated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an attaching device and a portion of a ribbon according to conventional prior art;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the device of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane designated by the line 6-6 of FIG.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are partial sectional views showing diagrammatically the insertion of the prior art device;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are sectional views illustrating diagrammatically the resultant force vectors on the prior art devices under differently directed pulling forces applied thereto;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a securing device according to this invention;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are sectional views illustrating somewhat diagrammatically the insertion of the securing device according to this invention into a spool;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are sectional views illustrating the resultant force vectors of various pulling forces applied to the securing devices according to this invention when inserted in a spool.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 11 through 15 show a device according to this invention for mounting an elongated strip of material such as an inked ribbon to a spool of the type shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. This securing device, designated by the reference character 40, is formed from an elongated rod bent to the desired configuration. The configuration includes a pair of intermediate straight sections 42 and 44 which have at the ends thereof respectively bent legs 46 and 48 extending substantially at right angles thereto. The legs are longer than the width of the opening but shorter than the depth of the slot 14. The legs 46 and 48 and intermediate sections 42 and 44 lie on a common plane. A central tab portion designated generally as 50 is formed by bending the rod to a configuration having a pair of short arm sections 52 and 54 which lie substantially on the common plane of the legs 46 and 48 along with sections 42 and 44. Central tab 50 also has a central U-shaped portion 56 which lies on a plane that is at an angle to and noncommon with the plane common to the legs 46 and 48 and intermediate sections 42 and 44.

The ribbon 32 is secured to this device by cutting out a rectangular portion 58 near one end thereof and folding the end of the ribbon 32 back upon itself and securing it together as shown in FIG. 11. In this configuration the ribbon is free to pivot on the securing device 40 with the tab 50 being unobstructed by virtue of the cut out portion 58 allowing movement thereof.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show somewhat diagrammatically the mounting of the securing device 40 in a spool 10 of the type generally shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. In order to accomplish the mounting, the device 40 is twisted so that the common plane of the legs 46 and 48 and intermediate portions 42 and 44 are aligned with the opening 20 to the slot 14 as shown in FIG. 12. In this position the device is inserted into the slot 14. The configuration of the tab 50 allows the device to pass by the tab 24. The device 40 is then twisted to the position shown in FIG. 13, pushing the tab 50 against the bottom of the notch 22 with the legs extending under lip 16 which position will prevent passage of the device 40 through opening 20. As the device 40 thus resides in the slot 14 the ribbon 32 eminates from one extreme end thereof,

be urged into a securing position irrespective of the direction of the forces exerted by the ribbon 32, as is illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15.

Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, FIG. 14 illustrates how the ribbon will emerge from the opening 20 when the spool is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to wind the ribbon thereon. It will be seen that the ribbon comes up over the lip 18 causing a linear vector E on the device tending to move it in the direction of the notch 22, and force the ends of the legs 46 and 48 into locking engagement with the wall adjacent to notch 22. Because the ribbon passes over lip 18 and reverses direction, a tortional force will be generated as designated by the force vector F. This is similar to the operation of the prior art device. The tab 50 will bear against the bottom of the notch 22 and the intermediate portions 42 and 44 will bear against the lip 18. This will maintain the device securely in the slot 14.

If the spool rotates in a clockwise direction and to such a degree that it completely unwinds the ribbon to the position shown in FIG. 15, the ribbon 32 will pass over the lip 16 as shown. Because the ribbon passes over this lip 16 a linear force vector G will be generated similar to the force vector E in FIG. 14, pushing the device toward the notch 22 and the end thereof into contact with the wall adjacent the notch 22. Also, a tortional force vector H will be generated, as shown, in a counterclockwise direction. Thus the force vectors generated in either direction that the ribbon tends to pull are similar, the force vectors being such as to twist the securing device 40 in a direction which will urge it to stay in the slot 14 and maintain the ribbon connected to the spool. v

The device is, of course, maintained in the slot 14 by having its dimension defined by the legs 46 and 48 wider than the opening 20 and bridging across said opening. Legs 46 and 48 will engage under the lip 16 to resist a direct pullout if this condition occurs. However, the normal condition is that of forces being vectored in a counterclockwise direction to urge the tab 50 into engagement with the bottom of the notch 22 and the intermediate section 42 and 44 under the lip 18 to thereby secure the device within the slot 14.

Thus it can be seen that the device of the present invention overcomes the two major drawbacks to the prior art device. First, it provides a vectoring of forces which will maintain the device in the slot irrespective of the direction of pull out of the ribbon 32. Also, it can be very easily applied in the field by merely letting out a section of the ribbon and folding the ribbon over the intermediate sections and securing the ribbon either with scotch tape, glue, paste or other suitable material.

What is claimed is: v

1. In combination, a strip of material and a member for securing the end of said strip to a spool said spool having an elongated slot extending in an axial direction with an undercut lip on at least one side of said slot, said strip securing member configured to reside in said slot, said member having a dimension in one transverse direction greater than the width of the opening of the slot and less than the depth of the slot and a dimension in the other transverse direction less than the width of the opening of the slot, said member having means engaging the strip to cause the strip to eminate from one side of said member in the longer transverse direction thereof, and means to limit the amount of rotation of said member in the slot in a direction to bring said one side toward the opening in the slot.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said means to engage said strip includes means to pivotally engage a loop of the strip.

3. In combination, an elongated strip of material having a loop in one end thereof, and a device for securing said strip of material to a spool having an elongated axially extending open slot with an undercut lip on at least one side of said opening, said member including an intermediate rod section pivotally engaging said loop and a pair of legs at the opposite ends of said intermediate section extending transversely of said intermediate section, and means to limit the amount of rotation of said member in one direction when the member resides in the slot, said limit of said rotation being at a location with the legs disposed under said lip.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said spool has a notch extending circumferentially from said slot, and said means to limit rotation is a tab at said intermediate section extending transversely of said rod, and the loop of said material has a cut-out portion through which said tab projects, said tab being shaped and configured to reside in said notch.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said legs lie on a common plane with said intermediate section and said tab lies, at least in part, on a plane noncommon to the plane of said legs and intermediate sec tion.

6. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said tab is formed by said rod being bent.

7. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said legs are formed by said rod being bent.

8. A device for securing an elongated strip of material to a spool in a slot thereon, having undercut lips, said device comprising, intermediate rod sections for pivotally engaging the end of a strip of material, legs extending from the opposite ends of said intermediate section transverse thereto, and stop means formed on said central section and extending transverse thereto.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said legs and said intermediate rod section have a common plane, and said stop means lies at least in part on a plane non-common thereto. 

1. In combination, a strip of material and a member for securing the end of said strip to a spool said spool having an elongated slot extending in an axial direction with an undercut lip on at least one side of said slot, said strip securing member configured to reside in said slot, said member having a dimension in one transverse direction greater than the width of the opening of the slot and less than the depth of the slot and a dimension in the other transverse direction less than the width of the opening of the slot, said member having means engaging the strip to cause the strip to eminate from one side of said member in the longer transverse direction thereof, and means to limit the amount of rotation of said member in the slot in a direction to bring said one side toward the opening in the slot.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said means to engage said strip includes means to pivotally engage a loop of the strip.
 3. In combination, an elongated strip of material having a loop in one end thereof, and a device for securing said strip of material to a spool having an elongated axially extending open slot with an undercut lip on at least one side of said opening, said member including an intermediate rod section pivotally engaging said loop and a pair of legs at the opposite ends of said intermediate section extending transversely of said intermediate section, and means to limit the amount of rotation of said member in one direction when the member resides in the slot, said limit of said rotation being at a location with the legs disposed under said lip.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said spool has a notch extending circumferentially from said slot, and said means to limit rotation is a tab at said intermediate section extending transversely of said rod, and the loop of said material has a cut-out portion through which said tab projects, said tab being shaped and configured to reside in said notch.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said legs lie on a common plane with said intermedIate section and said tab lies, at least in part, on a plane non-common to the plane of said legs and intermediate section.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said tab is formed by said rod being bent.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said legs are formed by said rod being bent.
 8. A device for securing an elongated strip of material to a spool in a slot thereon, having undercut lips, said device comprising, intermediate rod sections for pivotally engaging the end of a strip of material, legs extending from the opposite ends of said intermediate section transverse thereto, and stop means formed on said central section and extending transverse thereto.
 9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said legs and said intermediate rod section have a common plane, and said stop means lies at least in part on a plane non-common thereto. 